ABOUT
Established in 2020, ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC is a privately held company based in Athens, Ohio that researches and develops novel health therapeutics utilizing natural resources. We specialize in biosynthetic technology and synthetic chemistry as well as emerging technologies including Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC). Our research centers on infectious diseases, diabetes, and cancer. We have developed novel technologies in the identification and production of potential therapeutic metabolites from silenced genes in natural living organisms (plants and microbials) as well as in the construction of living medicines, including both supplements and prescription medicines.
ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC also collaborates with academic investigators and researchers at Ohio University as well as other universities around the country and globally to translate their technologies into marketable therapeutics . ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC aims to work with local Southeast Ohio partners in establishing an ecosystem in the region for the research and manufacturing of natural product-based health products and therapeutics.
THE TEAM
Dr. Wu received his Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992. He is currently the Director of Edison Biotechnology Institute and Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University. He has 25 years of experience in independent research as well as 10 years experience in leading entrepreneurship and local economic development. He was a recipient of the Ohio University Presidential Research Scholars awards of 2020 and is the President-Elect of the American Society of Photobiology.
Dr. Tong received her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio University in 2014. She was awarded an American Cancer Society Research Postdoctoral Fellowship for studying chemoprevention of skin cancer in 2016 and was also promoted to assistant investigator at Ohio University's Edison Biotechnology Institute. She is currently a Research Scientist at Nationwide Children Hospital, developing and carrying out gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases. Dr. Tong is experienced in working collaboratively with academic and industrial partners to develop commercial products and business grant proposals.
Dr. Han received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and pharmaceutical science in a joint program between Shandong University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015. He worked for five years as a scientist in a pharmaceutical company before joining Edison Biotechnology Institute at Ohio University as an assistant investigator. His research projects are focused on drug design, synthesis, and activity evaluation, antibiotic resistant microbial infection and drug intervention, and isolation, structural characterization, and biosynthesis of novel natural products in microorganisms. He currently oversees initial research and technology development within Edison Biotechnology Institute.
Veronica Bahamondes Lorca, Ph.D. - Member, Scientist
Dr. Bahamondes received her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio University in 2021. She is currently an Assistant Investigator at Edison Biotechnology Institute, a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University, and also an Assistant Professor at University of Chile Medical School. Dr. Bahamondes has extensive research experiences in radiation biology, skin aging and cancers, and inflammatory responses.
Dinesh Gautam, Ph.D. - Scientist
Dr. Gautam is a highly motivated chemist and engineer with a Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from Ohio University, earned in 2023. His expertise in designing, constructing, and troubleshooting a wide range of bioanalytical instruments and techniques has made him a valuable asset in the field of health therapeutics development. Dr. Gautam is eager to leverage his unique skillset to make significant contributions to the advancement of groundbreaking health treatments.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Ju-Lin Wang, M.D.
Dr. Huang is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ. He received his MD at St. Georges University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. He did his medical internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY and his residency at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY before joining the university as a fellow. Dr. Wang specializes in general trauma surgery and critical care.
Lei Wang, Ph.D.
Dr. Wang is a principal scientist in charge of translational research and early development at Ikena Oncology, Boston, MA. She received her Ph.D. at Ohio University and did her post-doctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. Before joining Ikena Oncology, Dr. Wang also worked as a scientist at Enumerl Biomedical Holdings, and as a senior scientist at Syndax Pharmaceuticals. She has extensive experiences in R&D of therapeutic mABs, cell-based immunology assays, clinical pharmacology assays, and early-stage drug development.
Ajith Welihinda, Ph.D.
Dr. Welihinda is the Director of Cell Biology, Head of Cell Signaling and Assay Development, and Senior Investigator at Molecular Medicine Research Institute (MMRX) in Sunnyvale, CA. He is a highly skilled biochemist and molecular biologist with particular expertise in signal transduction. His research includes studying novel drug targets and the mechanism of action of drug candidates in disease areas such as inflammation and diabetes. Dr. Welihinda received his Ph.D. from Medical College of Ohio in biochemistry and molecular biology and had his post-doctoral training at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of the University of Michigan. Before joining MMRX, Dr. Welihinda also worked as a research scientist at the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan and has served in senior research positions at Galileo Pharmaceuticals, Sangstat Medical Corporation, Genzyme Corporation, and Theracos, Inc.